Snow Chains in the UK

[Yeti]

Thought I'd just make a recommendation about what is worth carrying in these conditions if you drive (on 4 wheels) around the country for a living.

I won't state the obvious, shovel etc, but one thing that most people disregard is a set of chains. they are great for a quick fix!

(have to say that they are possibly not legal in the UK, is that true?, and I'm not sure about the legality of using them in the uk, but to be honest I couldn't give a monkeys as I only use them to get me out of a spot!)

We have a set in whatever vehicle we have for travel in europe, and have up until now just returned them unused for exchange if we change our vehicle.

In reality there are only a couple of situations you need them over here if you can drive ok in snow. The usual situation is people that can't drive in snow managing to stop on an incline and completely block the road when they realise they can't get going again, thus stopping everyone else and creating the same problem. And then spinning the wheels soo much that the road has a better shine than a waxed car! stopping anyone that is actually managing to maintain any momentum.

The second favorite is the motoryway shunt. Everyone still drives bumper to bumper although at 35mph and then someone brakes.......
Because everyone has been driving in the nearside lane they cant change lane and get going again in the other snow covered lanes.

We have never had a problem before but now we have a LWB van that is the best part of 3 Tonne and can be a bit of a pain to get going on polished roads.

The chains we have cost less than £100 and take less than five minutes to fit and maybe 5 minutes each to remove as you have to move the vehicle a little.

It is well worth having them to fit as for the sake of a few quid and a few hundred metres of bad road you can usually toddle off home whilst others stuck there like lemons look at you completely amazed as you pop them on and drive off.

YES they really are THAT quick and easy to fit that they are worth putting on just to get you up an otherwise impassable slope!

Anyway I thought I'd share that with you as they have given me much ammusement at other peoples expense over the last few days!

[StumpyFingers]

They used to be fitted to milk floats in the 1970's.

[tramp]

hi yeti,
while snow chains are a good idea they only work if everybody else has them otherwise you cant get anywhere as the roads blocked by other traffic.

just my thoughts, and whats with all the "christmas shoppers " on the roads you`d thought they had never seen snow the way there driving pulling out in front of a fully loaded 44 ton arctic on the north circular aint clever

In the cold countries [europe] its compulsory tohave winter tyres and snow chains for the adverse weather, here its well it only happens every 5 years or so so we dont bother

[jasonbc]

Formula4 offroad website were selling them £29 a set. Don't know if they are any good i did think about buying a set but holding off as i think i've got a set coming from work.

If they are illegal why do the Ambulances down here still use them in bad weather??

[Big Dave]

Having driven all over europe in a truck in all the weather conditions you could ever imagine, i decided long ago to give up using snow chains, snow matts and other equipment, in favour of snow curtains.

if its snowing / conditions are so bad you cannot get going at a resonable speed regardless of what everybody else is doing, its time to use the snow curtains.

Just find somewhere safe to park hopefully with facilities ie Bar/resturant that stays open late, and close the curtains on my truck (around the cab, not the trailer) and head into the Bar, until its clear.

Did this once in Italy, got out 3 days later.

Snow curtains are the future

[Lutin]

If they are illegal why do the Ambulances down here still use them in bad weather??

Pragmatism.

[tramp]

sounds good to me Bigdave
just make sure you ahve enough fuel ffor the diesel heater, loved mine today in london, but did see some numpty on a 125cc bike giving it plenty throttle on the ice. And he wonders why he feel off

"its easy getting into trouble" the hard parts getting out

[Yeti]

hi yeti,
while snow chains are a good idea they only work if everybody else has them otherwise you cant get anywhere as the roads blocked by other traffic.

Thats my point! you can just drive round the bloody fools and be on your way!

just my thoughts, and whats with all the "christmas shoppers " on the roads you`d thought they had never seen snow the way there driving pulling out in front of a fully loaded 44 ton arctic on the north circular aint clever

Yep folk sure are daft! I've seen some incredible driving over the last couple of days. When it came down hard the other day on the A1 it had a new BMW or Audio or other such big saloons on the hard shoulder every 1/4 mile? what is that all about???

And why do you get scowled at like you just commited armed robbery if you drive on the more than grippy fresh snow in the outside lane (even at the same speed as everyone else??) rather than bumper to bumper surrounded by idiots on compacted slippy snow/ice

[tramp]

maybe the Bmw and Audi`s had the "Eurostar disease"
and as for the driving on fresh snow, its were all the grip is and is nice and smooth

think I might need me stabilizers tomorrow or the ski`s